60GB hard drive and Atheros a/b/g upgrade for X41 a success

[asiafish]

I had only two complaints about my X41, slow hard drive performance and lack of hard drive space. Also, while the wireless worked perfectly, I wanted to install OS X and OS X does not support the Intel wireless cards.

I finally tracked down a brand-new 60GB 1.8" drive and using Norton Ghost moved my Windows installation over. While 60GB is not huge, it is more than adequate and give me the flexibility to install games and music and still have enough room to use as my main productivity machine. The drive is no faster than the original 40GB, but I've since refined my installation enough that it boots in about 1:30 which is fast-enough, and runs quickly once in Windows.

OS X is so far a non-starter. I've tried everything I could think of, including wiping the hard drive and installing with a single Fat32 partition and even with no partititions at all. Its always the same, the install DVD goes through the gray Apple screen and then just stops at a solid blue screen and does nothing. Its not the install DVD as I've tried two versions, both of which worked fine on my old X32. Anyone with a successful OS X load on an X41 have any ideas to help?

As part of the OS X plan, I installed the ThinkPad a/b/g (Atheros) card and noticed right away that my battery life is a bit better and that I pick up more wireless networks at higher strength. Wow, what a difference! Losing my Centrino logo is a very small price to pay for the increased range. So far I've yet to have a connection drop, though I never did with the Intel card either.

So with the improvements made and even without OS X working I've really come to love the X41. I'm sure the X60s is even better, but I have no complaints in using this as my primary computer. It is fast enough, very stable and has about the best keyboard and ergonomics of any computer I've ever used.

I wonder if I can curb my new-computer lust until March 2009 when the warranty expires.

[yashichi]

It is an IBM atheros card or an OEM?

Does the green led for the wifi work?

Where did you buy it?

[asiafish]

Its an IBM Atheros card and yes, the green LED works perfectly, as does the FN+F5 utility.

[yashichi]

Where did you buy it?

[asiafish]

Got the 60GB on eBay and bought the Atheros card from Lenovo

[mono666]

i would like to know what hdd is it?? i am also thinking of buying a new hdd for my x41

[asiafish]

There is only one that will fit, the Hitachi 1.8", don't know the FRU or part number.

[mono666]

okay~ that made it easy~ so does it give the 2010 error?

[asiafish]

Nope. The one I bought is an actual ThinkPad drive, not sure about a bare drive, but seeing as only one model from one manufacturer fits, I rather doubt it.